DALLAS – An eclectic group of faith leaders are coming together in Dallas May 3rd through May 7th for a Week of Faith and Kindness in the spirit of unity to help prevent racism and division and thankfulness for getting through the isolation of the pandemic.
A full week of programs are scheduled, starting Tuesday, May 3rd and each day, culminating Saturday, May 7th in a celebration bringing North and South Dallas together on the Ron Kirk Bridge just west of downtown.
Speakers include Jewish rabbis, Muslim imams, Christian ministers and pastors, Protestants, Mormons, Catholics, 7th Day Adventists, Sikhs, Baha’is, and others. “This effort is to help our mayor bring our great city together to keep it united. We’re welcoming all faiths to join us and learn why Dallas has become a city for all faiths and it started at Thanks-Giving Square,” says organizer, Marzuq Jaami, a Muslim who is an original member of the Interfaith Council of The Thanks-Giving Foundation and also a member of the Southern Dallas Interfaith Council. Jaami, who is part of Imam W. Deen Mohammed’s Muslim American Community, is the founder of Connecting Our Faiths which has held numerous programs to educate and foster understanding of what faiths have in common.
“We have some differences, but we can all come together because there is only one Creator which we all believe in. When we do, we discover we have more in common than most people think we do,” Jaami says. “It’s a beautiful thing and something, I believe, our Creator wants us to do as we remember America is a nation under God for all.”
Events will be held at Thanks-Giving Square, The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, SMU Perkins School of Theology, Churches of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Dallas and Duncanville and the Ron Kirk Bridge downtown. The public is invited to witness the unity among faiths and attend the main programs which are free except where noted. Full details are in the attached schedule.
For more information and interviews, please contact Marzuq Jaami at 214-558-5707 or marzuqajaami@gmail.com. Thank you.
Week of Faith and Kindness Schedule, May 3-7, 2022
Tuesday, May 3: Noon.
Religious Leaders meet at Thanks-Giving Square Golden Rule Mosaic
Session 1: History of Thanks-Giving Square and How Dallas Became an Interfaith City
Emcee: Anita Zusman Eddy, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas’ Jewish Community Relations Council
Speakers: Opening Prayer Kyle Ogden, President & CEO, The Thanks-Giving Foundation Tatiana Androsov, Former President, The Thanks-Giving Foundation Marzuq Jaami, Muslim Member, Interfaith Council of The Thanks-Giving Foundation Almas Muscatwalla, Chair, Interfaith Council of The Thanks-Giving Foundation Dee Silverstein and Jackie Waldman: Co-Founders, Dallas Kindness Foundation Closing prayer: Rev. John Jackson, DFW Family Church and Texas Coordinator, American Clergy Leadership Conference Photos with Religious leaders at Golden Rule Mosaic
3:00 p.m. Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Tour (Limited to 25 Clergy)
Session 2: All Faiths Tour and 3D Holocaust Survivor Presentation
Presented by Dr. Charlotte Decoster, DHHRM Director of Education
6:00 p.m. Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
Session 3: How to Heal from Genocide and Human Suffering (Abrahamic Scriptures)
Emcee: Mary Pat Higgins, President and CEO Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
Speakers: Rabbi Jack Bemporad, Executive Director, Center for Interreligious Understanding Imam Yahya Abdullah, Al-Islam Worldwide Ministries, Masjid Muhammad President Mark Romney, Dallas Texas Stake President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dee Silverstein and Jackie Waldman, Co-founders, Dallas Kindness Foundation
Wednesday, May 4: 6:30 p.m.
The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints – Oak Cliff Building 1415 S. Vernon Ave, Dallas 75224
Session 4: How the Digital Age Benefits the Faith Community in Reaching Humanity for the Future
Emcee: David Reid, Former President, United Nations Association-USA, Dallas Chapter
Speakers: Imam Yahya Abdullah, Al-Islam Worldwide Ministries, Masjid Muhammad
David Patterson, 1st Counselor, Dallas Texas Stake Presidency, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
Thursday, May 5: 10:00 a.m.
Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology
Session 5: Scriptural Resources for Peace: The Impact of Saint Pope John Paul II on Interrreligious Dialogue
Emcee: David Reid, Former President, United Nations Association-USA, Dallas Chapter
Speakers: Rabbi Jack Bemporad, Executive Director, Center for Interreligious Understanding Robert Hunt, Director of Global Education and Center for Evangelism, SMU John Norris, Associate Professor, Theology – Associate Provost, University of Dallas Imam Arthur Farahkhan, Tulsa Muslim American Community Imam Yahya Abdullah, Al-Islam Worldwide Ministries, Masjid Muhammad
Noon. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas 75201
The Thanks-Giving Foundation National Day of Prayer Luncheon (Optional) Purchase tickets here: thanksgiving.org Clergy & Students: $35, Individuals: $75
Thursday, May 5: 6:30 p.m.
Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology, Prothro Hall
Session 6: How Religious Leaders Handle Crisis from Scripture
Emcee: Dr. Tricia Harris, Unity Church of Dallas
Speakers: S.A. Ibrahim, Co-chairman, Center for Religious Understanding Introduces the challenges and crises Rabbi David Stern – Temple Emmanu-El Imam Yahya Abdullah, Al-Islam Worldwide Ministries, Masjid Muhammad Bishop Keith Earl, Dallas Texas Stake, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, Southern Dallas Interfaith Council
Friday, May 6: 6:30 p.m.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1019 Big Stone Gap Rd, Duncanville, 75137
Session 7: Women of Faith Explore Challenges in Today’s World
Keynote: Role of the Growing Community of Faith and Women of Faith
Speaker: Almas Muscatwalla, Interfaith Council of The Thanks-Giving Foundation
Topic: What a Joy it is to Work with Woman of Faith
Speakers: Jewish: Rosie Stromberg
Catholic Focolare: Mary Black Muslim: Dr. Nisaa Muhammad Latter-day Saint: Mary Ann Taylor Seventh Day Adventist: Diana Taylor Sikh: Dr. Raveena Seetal Cheema Baha’i: Anne Perry Baptist: Dr. Re’Donna Polk Eastern Orthodox: Tatiana Androsov
Closing Song: DFW Family Church Japanese Women’s Choir
Closing Prayer: Sister Nisaa Muhammad
Saturday, May 7: 10:00 a.m.
Ron Kirk Bridge, 109 Continental Ave, Downtown Dallas 75208
Session 8: Uniting North and South Dallas on the Bridge
Gathering at the Center of the Bridge led by the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star
Emcee: Pastor Dr. Karen Hollie, Lifeway Church of Dallas
Speakers: Dr. Tricia Harris, Unity Church of Dallas
Honorable Omar Narvaez, District 6
Honorable Carolyn Arnold, District 4
Bishop Harold Edwards, Church of the Living God
Imam Yahya Abdullah, Al-Islam Worldwide Ministries, Masjid Muhammad Hindu Priest
Exchange of Holy Texts:
Youth Leader Statements:
Brotherhood of the Cross and Star Song
Libation/water Blessing Ceremony: Led by Pastor Dr. John Jackson, DFW Family Church
Summary and Closing Statements: President Mark Romney
Benediction: Dr. Harbans Lal, Sikh Community
Unity Prayer – All Faiths: Led by Rabbi Jack Bemporad, Reverend Dr. Mark Hernandez and Imam Yahya Abdullah
Return to Respective Sides of the Bridge led by the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star
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